Category Archives: rock & roll

Those who know me know that I like meat. I’m an unrepentant carnivore.

So, naturally, I have spent much of the scant recreational time I have during the Olympic Games in search of the best Korean barbeque available in the PyeongChang area.

Living in Los Angeles, I’m acquainted with the tradition of Korean barbeque – but I figured that, being in the motherland, I could treat myself to the very best. My first two attempts at local Korean BBQ dining were good – but neither was a meat-eater’s home run.

And then, last night, I found — and enjoyed — Korean BBQ heaven.

Our cameraman Corey found the place. It was a 20-minute cab ride from our Phoenix Park hotel – but we were hungry for adventure (and barbequed beef) so we were down for the excursion.

What follows is a pictorial progression through a beef lover’s Korean BBQ pilgrimage. Vegan’s need not apply…

This is the downstairs dining area. You’ll note that there are only Koreans here at this point in the evening. That is absolutely a good sign. We’ve come to the right place.

This night was Korean Lunar New Year. And the South Koreans were enjoying one of their biggest annual holidays. (See Vietnam’s Tet.) Does the Tet Offensive ring a bell?

We didn’t realize it when we set out, but the restaurant would get very, very busy — and we would have to wait a while to be seated, unlike these folks who shared a special Asian room, with no chairs.

(No shoes, please.)

After dinner, we’d be unable to get a cab ride home because of the busy holiday, but that’s another matter.

The whole evening took 5 hours. But, all in all, it was well worth it!

The first step in traditional Korean Barbecue is to visit the butcher and buy your cuts of meat.

This woman knows her meat. She explained that the steer we’d be eating was raised organically, with no hormones, grass fed — and A #1. She was not bullshitting.

We bought our beef BEFORE we cooked it. That’s the way it goes. You buy your meat first, then you get seated — and your drinks and everything else are billed later. Meat is Job #1.

With cameraman Corey in the lead, we hauled out cuts of beef to the upstairs dining room after a 20-minute wait. We were famished — but we anticipated beefy, tasty, spicy joy in our near future.

The upstairs dining room. It’s getting busy. The meat is about to get cooking…

Unlike our cold, steel and glass hotel in Phoenix Park, this Korean BBQ place features warm wood and delightful crystal chandeliers — which we would later learn are from the United States!

Seated across the table from me are my AP, Agatha, and my EP, David. We’re all hungry.

Next, they fire up the tabletop grill. The main meat-lovers event is about to go down…

As the meat grills, you combine ingredients into your bowl — in my case, chili paste, peppers, onions and garlic — so you can plunge your beef bits deep into this spicy heaven.

Next, Corey pulls down the exhaust fan. Otherwise, we’ll all be asphyxiated….

Our waiter provides some assistance. Everyone is helpful. They all want us to have a great time.

As our first beef course sears on the grill, our crew poses for a pre-meal photo. We’ve all been working hard — and we’re eager for a great meal. Luckily, David & Corey are Korean BBQ experts.

Corey took over as grillmaster. For those of you who know me from Greek Easter — you can appreciate how much I respect Corey’s Korean BBQ chops!

Each cut of beef was better than the next — and the last course was the best of all…

Corey was far too modest. His grilling of that last fabulous cut of beef was superb. But our meal was not yet complete. Corey had another great idea…

At Corey’s suggestion we ordered this. Somehow, all of this tasty goodness boiled down into an incredible, sweet beef and veggie soup.

And finally, here’s our host. Jean went to college and spent a lot of time in Los Angeles (as have a lot of educated South Koreans we’re met). She returned to South Korea a year ago and started running this restaurant — recognized on Trip Advisor as the best in PyeongChang.

I’m awarding her an Winter Olympic Gold Medal for the Best Korean BBQ.

Tickets are now on sale for The Practical Theatre Company and Studio5’s holiday comedy and music revue, Mr. Olsen’s Champagne Celebration.

Last year’s show was sold out — so, don’t delay, comedy lovers! Reserve your seats now for an evening of grown-up comedy, adult beverages, live music, dynamite dancers, the bubbly — and a bubble machine.

Join us as we ring in the New Year once again at Studio5 in Evanston, Illinois just north of Chicago.

The music will be better than ever — and that’s saying a lot! Steve Rashid leads the Studio5 All-Star Band, including Rockin’ Ronny Crawford on drums, Don Stille on accordion, bassist Joe Policastro and Don Stiernberg on every stringed instrument a man can play.

All this — and The Mr. Olsen Dancers!

There are just three shows in this limited engagement: Friday December 29, Saturday December 30 and Sunday December 31. Tickets are on sale now here!

My sweet-singing, songwriting daughter, Eva B. Ross, will be playing a set of her newest and grooviest tunes at The Hotel Café on November 4th at 10:00 pm. Doors open at 9:30 PM.

Vic and I will be waiting at the bar to toast your entrance.

Eva has been woodshedding this summer, crafting a brand new batch of songs – and she’ll be presenting many of them at this gig, backed by her stalwart lead guitarist David Miller and keyboardist Grant Milliken, both fellow UCLA grads and musical prodigies.

Eva is appearing at the Hotel Café to help celebrate the birthday of another UCLA musical friend, Ryan Nealon – whose band will take the stage after Eva at 11:00 pm.

Ryan is a kick-ass R & B singer – and this will be a party that kicks off the holiday 2017 season with a solid dose of dance-inducing soul.

As many of you already know, my daughter Maura is a singer of great soulful, bluesy and funky power. She’s been gigging throughout the year with Vaud & The Villains – but she’s back for the spooky holidays with her own band: Ms. Maura & The Misters.

On Saturday, October 28th, Mr. Maura & The Misters will kick off the pre-Halloween weekend with an exclusive costume party at quirky Kulak’s Woodshed in North Hollywood.

Ms. Maura suggests that you get your dance on at this all-ages shindig — featuring the sweet sounds of Karlina Covington and the rockin’ rhythms of Ms. Maura and her very groovy band.

Anyone who attended last year’s sold-out production of “Mr. Olsen’s Holiday Party”, produced by The Practical Theatre Company at Studio5 in Evanston, won’t want to miss “Mr. Olsen’s Champagne Celebration”.

“Mr. Olsen’s Champagne Celebration” is a brand new show – with lots of new songs, sketches, and some classic PTC material that hasn’t been seen in Chicago for years. Plus, the band is bigger and better than ever!

Those folks who weren’t able to get a ticket for last year’s show will be happy to know that, this year, there are three performances rather than two. Tickets will go on sale soon. Watch this space.

2017 has been a crazy year. Damn crazy.

“Mr. Olsen’s Champagne Celebration” is the best way to kiss 2017 goodbye!

In just one week, The Practical Theatre Company will be saying goodbye to 2016 and ringing in the New Year with comedy and song – and your favorite adult beverages.

Tickets are going fast for “Mr. Olsen’s Holiday Party“ on December 30 and 31 at Evanston’s new Studio5 (Dempster & Dodge). There aren’t many tickets left for the New Year’s Eve performance, but you can still reserve seats by clicking here.

PTC vets Paul Barrosse, Victoria Zielinski and Dana Olsen will perform comedy sketches and songs from “The Vic & Paul & Dana Show”, as well as new material crafted for this special variety revue – styled after those classic holiday specials hosted by Andy Williams, Bing and Dean.

Music director and keyboard wiz Steve Rashid will lead a quartet featuring drummer Rockin’ Ronny Crawford, Don Stiernberg on guitar and mandolin, and bassist Jim Cox.

Members of the PTC’s second generation will also perform, including standup comedienne Emilia Barrosse, Giggle Breaks’ Daniel Rashid, singer-songwriter Eva B. Ross and drummer Robert Rashid.

Studio5 features full bar service – and acres of free parking.

The New Year’s Eve performance includes light food and a New Year’s party with live music and dancing after the show.

Actually, it’s a bit less than three months away — but comedy lovers in the Chicago area looking to shake off the madness of this wild and crazy year still have a chance to ring in 2017 with a raucous good time at Mr. Olsen’s Holiday Party. Tickets are going fast — but you can still join the party!

The PTC’s next generation is also on the bill: standup comedienne Emilia Barrosse and Giggle Break’s own Daniel Rashid, plus singer-songwriter Eva B. Ross (whom North Siders have seen at Katerina’s Jazz Club, The Beauty Bar and The Whiskey Lounge at 27 Live) and drummer Robert Rashid.

Mr. Olsen’s Holiday Party runs for two shows: a performance of the comedy-variety show on December 30 — and a New Year’s Eve party on December 31st featuring the comedy-variety show (including light food) followed by live music by the Studio5 All-Stars, who will keep the dance floor grooving into 2017!

Studio 5 has acres of free parking – and there will be a cash bar on both evenings.